Rail-joint.



L. W. OWEN.

RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 9, 1913.

1,117,514. Patented N0v.17, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

1HE MORRIS PEIERS Cn.. PHom-Llrno.. WASHINGIUN. n. C.

L. W. OWEN.

RAIL JOINT.

APPLIUATION FILED s211129, 1913.

1,117,514. Patented N0v.17,1914.

2 SEBBTS-SHEET 2.

1 mmnliilllll 97 \Z.

@n vanto@ LEWIS W. OWEN, OF BERGHOLZ, OHIO.

RAIL-JOINT.

i Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

Application filed September 9, 1913. Serial No. 788,868. l

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Lewis W. OWEN, citizen of the United States, residing at Berg holz, in the county of Jefferson and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Joi1its, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in rail joints, and contemplates the provision of a device of this character which is simple in construction, being formed of a minimum number of parts, may be cheaply manufactured, will be durable and adequately efficient in its action, and may be readily applied to hold the abutting ends of standard rails `in the desired position upon a tie with all necessary firmness and rigidity.

An object of equal importance with the foregoing is to construct the joint of this invention in such manner that it may be applied tothe abutting ends of rails and completelv assembled in operative position with a minimum expenditure of time and labor, thus facilitating in a large measure the work of replacing broken rails, joints or damaged ties.

A still further object is to construct a rail joint consisting broadly in a pair of slidably connected tie plates which carry fishplates adapted to bear against the web portions oi the abutting rail terminals and the adjacent base portions oi the rails, eiiiectu ally holding the rail ends against transverse or vertical movement.

A yet further object is to equip one of the ish-plates with inwardly projecting studs or bolts which are insertible through the bolt receiving apertures commonly formed in the webs of rail terminals, and are formed with grooves or slots adjacent their free or innermost ends which slots are adapted to receive locking lips or ribs carried by the second fish-plate and formed to cosact with a longitudinally extending slot in holding the studs or bolts of the first fish-plate against withdrawal from the web portions of the abutting rail ends.

A yet further object is to construct the base or tie-plate portion of the device with a .sliding connection, so that the stud carrying portion of the device may be applied to the abutting rail terminals in .relatively lixed relation thereto, and the other section or portion of the device may be placed on one of the rails and slid longitudinally thereon to bring the terminals of the studs 1n a receiving slot and to dispose the lips or ribs in the grooves of the studs, at the same time completing the sliding connection between the base plate portions of the two sections, so that the fish-plates carried by the `two sections will engage against the opposite faces of the rail webs.

The above and additional objects are aecomplished by such means as are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, described in the following specification, and then more particularly pointed out in the claims with are appended hereto and form a part of this application.

Vith reference to the drawings, wherein I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention as it is reduced to practice, and throughout the several views of which similar reference numerals, designate correspending parts, ligure l is a perspective view of the rail joint in assembled relation to the abutting terminals of a pair of rails; Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the joint taken through the web portion oi the rail `in a horizontal plane; Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view; Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of one section of the joint; and Fig. (3 is a detail perspective view of the other section of the joint. j

Before proceeding to the description of the drawings, itis desirable to emphasize j the fact that great ditliculty has heretofore been encountered in the application of rail joints to the abutting terminals of the rails in that the bolts commonly employed in connection with {ish-plates or the like must be singly applied, involving considerable time and labor. This invention, therefore, aims to overcome this needless expenditure of time and labor by providing' one of the fish-plates with `relatively fixed studs which may be of any desired number and may be simultaneously inserted through the receivplates and fish-plates, as will be hereinafter more fully disclosed.

Each section in-` forms on its inner Taking up now particularly the description of the section 10 which, When in as sembled position, is fixed inpits relation to the rails regards longitudinal movement, this element includes, as best illustrated in Fig. 5, a base portion or tie-plate 12 and a fish-plate 13, which are preferably formed integrally, and may be of cast-steel or any other desired and suitable material Which may be found most efficient under the conditions concurrent with the application of the invention. The tie-plate portion 12 is substantially oblong in shape, and is of such Width that its upper face, vindicated at 14E, is approximately equal in Width to' the standard rail base, While its outerl longitudinal edge lies remote from the adj acent edge of the rail base suoli a distance as Will afford the desired supporting surface.` As Will be readily observed upon reference to Fig. 5,y the lower edge of the fishplate 13 merges into the tie-plate 12 at the outer longitudinal edge thereof, thus producing a thickened portion. Thisth-icliened portion is formed With a number of notches or recesses, Which yare indicated at 15, and are provided for the obvious purpose of applying spikes to the tie-plate, whereby it may be held in the desired position on the tie.

Thel under face of the member 12 is formed with a longitudinally extending centrally-disposed slot or groove, indicated at 16. The member 12 is further cut-away, as at 17, from the slot 16 to the inner edge 18. This cut-away portion 17 and slot 16` are provided for a purpose Which Will be hereinafter fully disclosed in that portion of the specification devoted to the description of the application of the tivo sections of the joint to the abutting ends of the rails. The inner edge 19 of the slot 16 is underout, also for a purpose to` be hereinafter fully described.

The lish-plate 13 of the section 10 conface to the outline of the rail base and rail web, so that when the section 10 is in assembled position, the {ishplate 13 will snugly engage against the upper face of the rail base and the adjacent face of the rail Web.

Referring now particularly to Fig.. 5, it Will be noted that a number of studs 20 project from the inner face of the member 13 and are arranged in a longitudinally extending ser-ics, being longitudinally spaced from each other. These studs are of such length that When inserted through the receiving apertures 21 formed in the rail Webs, their ends Will project 'a slight distance be yond the opposite faces of the rail Webs. The free terminals of the studs which, as described, are designed to extend beyond the opposite face of the rail Web, are formed with diametrically opposed grooves, indiequipped Which are carried by the fish-plate of the" section 11, as Will be described in detail hereinafter.

At this point, it is desirable to directy attention to the fact that the stud receiving apertures formed in the rail Webs are preferably elliptical in shape, being arranged With the longitudinal axes of the ellipses in horizontal planes, the purpose of this formation of these stud receiving apertures being to permit the expansion and contraction of the rails.

Coming now to the description of the slidable section 11 of the rail joint; this element includes a tie-plate or base portion 25 and a iish-plate 26. The tie-plate 25 is in shape substantially similar to the member 12, but is of less Width. The inner edge 27 of this member 25 extends slightly beyond the longitudinal center of the rail base When iny assembled position, and is with an integrally formed rib or strip 28 which is produced by making a longitudinally extending slot or groove 29 in the upper -face of the member 25. feature of the invention is best illustrated in Fig. 6, to which reference is novv had. The inner redge 30 of the member 23 is undercut, so that when the member 28 is inserted Within the slot 16, the undercut edge of the slot and the undercut edge of the member `23 Will engage and prevent the displacement of the rib 28. ln this connection, it is to be observed that the inner face of the {ish-plate 26 is formed with a longitudinally extending slot 31, the edges of 1which are defined by a pair of longitudinally extending lips or ribs 32. The adjacent edges of these lips 32 extend in parallel spaced relation to each other and comprehend a distance less than the Width of the slot 31, as Will be readily observed upon reference to Fig. 6. The purpose of this slot 31 and the lips 32 Will be apparent when reference is had to Fig. 4l. In this figure, it Will be noted that the lips 32, when in assembled relation, are seated in the grooves 22-and 23 of the studs 20, While the extreme v Referring novvparticularly to Figs.2 and This 3, it will be observed that the slot 16 formed in the underface of the fish-plate 12 extends diagonally with respectto the longitudinal axis of the fish-plate. Obviously, therefore, the straight edge 19 and the undercut edge 19 of this slot being parallel to each other throughout their length also extend diagosition of the receiving slotlG and the edge 30 of the rib 28 will act to move the adjacent faces of the fish-plates 13 and 26 in toward each other, at the same time maintaining them in parallel spaced relation. In this connection, it is to be noted that the edge 30 of the rib 28 and the edges of the slot 16 are oppositely directed as regards their angular relation to the longitudinal axes of the fishplates 26 and 13 for, as will be readily ob- "i served upon reference to Fig. 2, the edge 30 is spaced from the outer edge of the fishplate 241 the greatest distance at that end of the rail joint at which the undercut edge 19 of the slot 16 is least removed from the outer edge of the fish-plate 13. Gbviously, there fore, as well as bringingthe two iislrplates into closer engagement against the web of the rail, the peculiar formation of the slot 16 and edge 30 acts to wedge the sliding joint of the two tie-plates when the sections are slid into home position, in the manner to be hereinafter described.

The actual construction and arrangement of the various elements of the two sections and 11 being thus described in detail, it now remains to describe in brief the` method followed when the sections are applied to the adjoining terminals of the railsand to direct attention to the peculiar advantages resultant from the novel form of structure employed. In applying these sections 10 and 11, the member 10 is first disposed on the tie with thebase or tie-plate portion 12 resting on the upper face of the tie. The rail terminals are then disposed on the upper face of the member 12 and are slid transversely thereof to project the studs 20 through the receiving apertures formed in the rail webs. When the rail terminals are thus applied, it

is obvious that they will be supported by the upper face of the tie-plate 12, while the fishplate will snugly engage against the upper face of the rail base and adj acentface of the rail web. It is also to be noted that the upper edge of the fish-plate 13 will engage against the under portion of the rail tread.

Following the operation above described. it remains to apply the section 11. In this operation, the tie-plate is disposed beneath the lower face of the rail base of one rail and thei'ish-plate 26 is disposed in engagement with the upper face of the rail base and adjacent face of the rail web. The section 11. is then slid longitudinally of the rail to bring the lips 32 into receiving grooves 21 and 22 of the studs, while the rib or strip 28 is inserted into the receiving slot 16. lVhen the sliding section 11 is moved into home position, it only remains to apply spikes in the notches 15 of the members 12 and 25. The rail joint is thus complete.

Relative to the many advantages resultant from the novel form of structure herein described and illustrated, it is to be noted first of all that this invention provides what may be termed a boltless rail joint since it is not necessary to apply individual bolts or similar fastening `devices to the fish-plates in order to hold the terminals inthe desired position. It is also desirable to direct attention to the extreme simplicity of the rail joint, which is believed to be one of the chief merits of this invention. It is also desirable to `emphasize the fact that the rail joint of this invention permits the removal of rail or the substitution of ties with a minimum expenditure of time and labor, inasmuch as the operation of assembling the rail joint involves merely the withdrawal of the tie spikes and the sliding of the section 11 along the rail.`

I n reduction to practice, I have found that the form of my invention, illustrated in the drawings and referredto in the above description as the preferred embodiment, is the most etlcient and practical; yet realizing that the conditions concurrent with the adoption of my device will necessarily vary, I desire to emphasize the fact that various minor changes in details of construction, proportion and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, when required, without sacrificing `any of the advantages of my invention,

as defined in the appended claims.

1. The combination with abutting rail terminals, of a chair spanning the junction of said rail terminals and including mating' sections having interlocking base portions and each provided with an upstanding side wall,`the inner face of the side wall of one section being formed with a longitudinally disposed slot opening through one end thereof and terminating short of the other to form a stop shoulder, said slot defining inwardly projecting lips, the free edges of which are disposed parallel with each other and extend uninterruptedlyfrom the shoulder to the open end of the slot, and studs extending laterally from the inner face of the side wall of the mating chair section and having their upper and lower faces provided with transverse grooves adapted to receive the lips when the chair sections are assembled in position on the rail terminals.

2. The combination with abutting rail terminals, of a chair embracing the rail terminals at the junction thereof and formed of mating sections, each provided with an upstanding wall and an inwardly extending base portion, the base portion. of one chair section being provided with an undercut rib adapted to enter a correspondingly undercut slot formed in the base portion of the mating chair section, the inner face of the side wall or" one of the sections being provided with a longitudinally disposed slot opening through one end thereof and terminating short of the other end to torni a stop shoulder, said slot defining inwardly projecting lips, the free edges ot' which are disposed parallel with each other and extend uninterruptedly from the shoulder to theA open end o'j the slot, and spaced cylindrical stues projecting laterally from the inner face oi' the side wall of the mating chair section and having transverse grooves formed in the top and bottom thereof` and adapted to receive the lips when the chair is assembled in` position on the rai1 terminals.

3. The combination with abutting rail terminals, of a chair embracing the rail terminals at the junction thereoie and formed of mating sections, each section being provided with an npstanding side wall and an inwardly project-ing base portion, the base portion or one chair'section being provided with a diagonally extending rib adapted to enter a correspondingly shaped groove formed in the base portion of the mating section, the tace oi the side wall of one of the chair sections being smooth and unobstructed and provided with a longitudinally disposed slot opening` through one end of the side wall and teri'ninating short oi the other to form a stop shoulder, said slot deiining inwardly projecting lips extending in spaced parallel relation to each other from the shoulder to the open end oit the slot and having their free edges smooth and unobstructed throughout their entire length, and studs projecting laterally from the inner face of the side wall or the mating section and having upper and lower transverse grooves formed therein and adapted to receive the lips when the chair is assembled in position on the rail terminals.

el. The combination with abutting rail terminals, oi' a chair embracing the rail terminals at the junction thereof and formed of mating sections, each provided with an inwardly extending base portion having means for interlocking engagement' with the base portion ofthe mating section, said chair sections being torined with upstanding side walls adapted to bear against the webs of the rail terminals, the inner iace of the side wall ot one of the chair sections being formed midway of itsnpper and lower longitudinal edges with a longitudinally disposed slot opening through one end ot theside wall and terminating short of the other to form a stop shoulder, said slot deining inwardly projecting lips forming a partial closure for *l the slot and having their free edges disposed parallel and continued uninterruptedly in parallel relation trom the lshoulderrto the open end o the slot, and cylindrical studs projecting laterally Jirom 'the inner face of the side wall of the mating chair section and having upper and lower transverse grooves tonned therein adapted to receive the lips when the chair is assembled in position onl the rail. terminals, one of the studs, by enga gement with the stop shoulder, serving to limit the longitudinal movement of the chair on the rails.

` ln testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

Lnwis w. ownN. [L s] lv-Vitnesses J. Romains, J. L. lPiNNoon.

Copies or this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by adressng the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

